Over 300 mentally challenged persons could be wandering on the streets of Kanyakumari district, according to NGOs providing care for the mentally ill. The four homes run by the NGOs have 182 mentally challenged men and women.
“Since a majority of them are from Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, it is difficult to rehabilitate them as they have no family here. Language is a major barrier for the rehabilitation homes,” said G. Manikandan, who takes care of 27 persons in his Manolaya. The biggest challenge for the homes is to identify the language of the mentally challenged persons and arrange local interpreters to know their names and native places.
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“While some of them had left their homes on their own, many of them were abandoned by their families. The family members, who could not maintain the mentally challenged relatives, send them to far-flung areas in goods carriers, by paying up to Rs. 5,000 to the drivers or in long-distance trains,” laments Mr. Manikandan.
A middle-aged man with a long beard lives in a bus stop opposite Mathias Hospital for over two years in Nagercoil, according to residents of the area. The man speaks Hindi and eats food provided by passers-by. He becomes violent whenever disturbed.
Similarly, at least four youths hailing from northern States are living in a bus shelter in Parakkai village near Nagercoil and many such wandering people are seen in tourist spots, including Kanyakumari.
Mr. Manikandan said the practice of abandoning mentally challenged persons by their own family members in tourist spots could be prevented by law enforcing authorities. It would take at least three to six months to know the history of mentally challenged persons, he said. In the past, 10 persons, including a graduate, were rehabilitated and united with their families, Mr. Manikandan said. K.B. Piramanayagam, District Differently Abled Welfare Officer, told The Hindu that four government recognised private homes, two each for men and women, were taking care of 182 – 114 of them women – mentally challenged persons in Kanyakumari district.